Clare’s rural transport service is facing a fresh threat to its future.
Its reported today the government is drawing up plans to scrap the network nationwide and replace it with a scheme under the control of county councils.
In 2009 hundreds of people took to the streets in Ennis in opposition to a proposal by An Bord Snip Nua to end the Rural Transport Programme.
Clare Accessible Transport which began over a decade ago operates a county wide service for well over 3000 people
According to a draft report from the Department of Transport -seen by the Irish examiner- the 35 community based companies – including Clare Accessible Transport would be abolished.
Eight regional authorities would then operate the new regime, under the National Transport Authority while Individual county councils will be responsible for schemes in their area.
The network employs 108 people at present, but under the plan, just 32 jobs will be maintained. Most of the other employees may be subsumed into the local authorities
Fears are growing that the plan will lead to a diminution of services as the system will remove the community element in organising and delivering transport to the most isolated areas.
